Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 204 Heyin! Heyin!
Heyin.

Yuan Yong glanced at the sky. Ever since he arrived here, he had felt that something was wrong.

"This awful weather!"

Yuan Yong grumbled, wishing the sacrificial ceremony would end quickly so he could return to Luoyang.

After Emperor Xiaowen moved the capital to Luoyang, he banned the northern clothing and language, and also banned the traditional sacrificial activities of the Xianbei people.

Such a sacrificial ceremony to heaven has not been held for decades.

Only a few court officials, such as Yuan Yong, who were veterans of that era, still knew the specific details.

However, even if they knew, it didn't mean that Yuan Yong and the others liked this kind of ceremony.

As Sinicized nobles, they were accustomed to poetry, literature, and elegance, and were well-versed in etiquette. Naturally, they looked down on such primitive and crude rituals.

Unfortunately, Erzhu Rong and the Northern Military Ranks behind him were fond of it.

As the prime minister, Yuan Yong naturally went to the front, but when he arrived at the place of the sacrificial ceremony, he saw an empty scene.

There were no wizards, no offerings, and not even Yuan Ziyou was in sight.

At this point, the nobles and officials were already becoming somewhat restless.

"Prime Minister, something's not right!"

Yuan Yong also became suspicious, but he spoke up, both to comfort others and to comfort himself.

"Calm down and see what's going on."

But soon, the commotion among the nobles turned into visible panic.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed around the sacrificial site.

Erzhu Rong led his cavalry to surround the venue on three sides, leaving only the north side, facing the surging Yellow River, as an opening.

Upon arriving at this point, even the most dull-witted among the assembled officials realized that things were not simple.

Seeing Erzhu Rong arrive on horseback, clad in armor, Yuan Yong angrily asked:
"Erzhu Rong, what are you doing!"

Erzhu Rong ignored him, instead brandishing his whip and pointing it at the surging Yellow River, shouting:

"The world is in chaos, and the Ming Emperor has died suddenly, all because of your greed and cruelty, and your failure to help each other! Today, I, Erzhu Rong, will sweep away all the evils!"

After Erzhu Rong finished speaking, before the assembled officials could react, he ordered a massacre to begin.

The nobles in Luoyang did try to beg for mercy, but how could these cavalrymen listen?
A bloodcurdling scream filled his ears, and the stench of blood grew stronger and stronger. Yuan Yong was momentarily dazed, as if he could hardly believe it was real.

"Prime Minister, let's go quickly!"

They could see Sikong Yuanqin's head flying over from not far away. Seeing his unseeing expression, Yuan Yong shook off the person holding his hand.

"Where are you going? Where do you think you're going to escape to!"

At that moment, Yuan Yong's words calmed down the nobles around him who were still trying to escape.

“We are of the highest rank in the land, and high-ranking officials of the court. Although we have perished at the hands of these wicked barbarians, we will not grovel for mercy. Emperor Xiaowen is watching us from heaven!”

"Yes!"

At that moment, a group of high-ranking officials gathered around Yuan Yong, each holding hands and forming a long line.

Yuan Yong looked at Erzhu Rong riding on his horse and let out a final roar and curse.

"Erzhu Rong, you barbarian, you have defied the court and slaughtered high officials. Your Erzhu clan will never receive the blessing of Heaven!"

Erzhu Rong sneered and ignored them. Only after seeing that these nobles who still had backbone had become dead did he slowly leave.

Of the two thousand nobles present, some died and others jumped into the river. Until the slaughter ended, Yuan Ziyou, who had been listening to everything from behind a square curtain on a hill not far from the altar, was terrified and his face was deathly pale.

Yuan Ziyou never expected that Erzhu Rong would be so ruthless.

Erzhu Rong lifted the curtain and walked in. Yuan Ziyou's fear reached its peak, and he blurted out:
"Erzhu Rong, are you going to commit regicide?"

Erzhu Rong looked at the terrified boy with some contempt and said, "Your Majesty, do not be alarmed. The chief culprit has been eliminated, and the court has returned to order. Your Majesty may return to the temporary palace first and then proceed to Luoyang to ascend the throne in a few days!"

Seeing Erzhu Rong's attitude, Yuan Ziyou finally regained some composure. He tried to stand up, but his legs were still trembling.

Erzhu Rong glanced at Xi Yi, who had been by Yuan Ziyou's side the whole time. Xi Yi nodded, helped Yuan Ziyou up, and led him away.

"This kid is cunning, but cowardly!"

Afterwards, Erzhu Rong went to see another person.

Empress Hu!

Hu Xianzhen appeared very calm at this moment. Even when Erzhu Rong arrived, she did not make any move, but simply held a string of Buddhist beads and kept chanting scriptures.

"Queen Mother!"

Erzhu Rong looked at the still charming woman in front of him, yet he maintained the proper etiquette.

Empress Hu ignored him and continued chanting scriptures.

Seeing this, Erzhu Rong was not angry; in fact, he felt a sense of admiration. He slowly spoke:

"I'm going to kill you!"

Empress Hu stopped chanting the sutra, looked at Erzhu Rong, and calmly said:
"I knew you wouldn't let me leave."

Erzhu Rong nodded, making no attempt to hide anything.

"You have held power in the Great Wei for many years. If you remain alive in Luoyang, with Li Shengui coordinating from the outside, you will ultimately be a threat!"

At Li Shenggui's current level, his personal talent is no longer important; what matters is that with his reputation, he can easily gather massive resources and powerful connections.

This is what Erzhu Rong is most worried about.

"How do you want to kill me?"

"Many souls have perished in the Yellow River today. Empress Dowager, let us journey together with them!"
-
Hu Xuanhui followed Yuan Luo and stayed in the imperial palace in Heyin.

Yuan Luo was Yuan Yi's brother and Yuan Ji's son.

Yuan Ji and Yuan Yi, as Erzhu Rong's former superiors, were not among those targeted by Erzhu Rong's purge. On the contrary, they received considerable courtesy.

Seeing Yuan Luo enter, Hu Xuanhui hurriedly stepped forward, tugged at Yuan Luo's sleeve, and asked:

"Where's my sister?"

Yuan Luo remained silent, his face grim.
Seeing this, Hu Xuanhui understood everything. At this moment, she felt extremely helpless and desperately tried to run away, but Yuan Luo caught her in time.

"what are you up to?"

Hu Xuanhui struggled, groaning helplessly:

"My sister has already relinquished power and is no longer a threat, so why kill her!"

Yuan Luo was much calmer than Hu Xuanhui. He held Hu Xuanhui, who was trying to run away, and said:
"So what? Does Erzhu Rong need a reason to kill someone?"

Although Yuan Luo received courteous treatment, he was still seething with anger.

"Don't be crazy! Our lives now hang in the balance, hanging in the balance with that barbarian. If you still want to collect the Queen's body, then listen to me!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Xuanhui collapsed to the ground like a puppet, utterly powerless. Only faint sobs echoed within the house.

Several days later, on the banks of the Yellow River, she saw Empress Hu's bloated body, soaked in water, so that her features were no longer recognizable.

Hu Xuanhui sat on the bank of the Yellow River, stroking his sister's face. His gaze gradually hardened as he looked at Yuan Luo beside him and said:

Tell Li Shenggui that I'm not going south; I'm staying in Luoyang!

At this moment, Hu Xuanhui's calm heart was filled with the fury of revenge!

……

(End of this chapter)